Process of manufacturing gas



(No Model.) 2 Sheets- 8116, 1. L. STEVENS.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS. No. 443,122. Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

ON LINE {(-X (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. STEVENS PROGESS OFMANUFACTURING GAS.

Patented Dec. 28, 1890.

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NI'IED STATES PATENT rricn.

LEVI STEVENS, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,122, dated December23, 1890.

Application filed April 8, 1889. Serial No. 306i42l. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI STEVENS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New J ersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process ofManufacturing Gas, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

My invention has reference to that system of gas manufacture in which amixture of steam and hydrocarbon vapor is delivered into and through amass of burning coal or other carbonaceous material,bnt differs from theordinary processes in certain particulars, which will be hereinafterdescribed.

In carrying my process into effect I conduct steam at a hightemperature,preferably superheated steam, at a temperature of from 1,000to 1,300 Fahrenheit into contact with a highly-heated vapor of petroleumor other highlydieatcd hydrocarbon, permitting the two to combine orcommingle. During such combination or admixture at high temperature Imaintain the gas under a pressure considerably above that of theatmosphere, ordinarily from twenty to forty pounds to the square inch.The maintenance of this high pressure and temperature is peculiar to myprocess and is of the essence of my invention. I conduct the foregoingmixture at its high temperature into the generator or chamber containingthe mass of burning anthra cite coal or other burning carbonaceousmaterial at a high temperature. In the generator the mixture ispermitted to expand with a corresponding reduction of pressure, thepressure in the generator being usually at or below that of the externalatmosphere. An exhausting or relieving apparatus of any appropriatecharacter is commonly connected with the generator to effect thedeliveryof the resulting gas from above the mass of carbon. I find thebest and most practicable method is to introduce the mixture of steamand vapor at the base of the burning mass and to permit its ascenttherethrough. I also introduce at the same time into the mass of burningcarbon a mixture of atmospheric air and steam for the purpose ofsupplying the oXygen necessary to sustain combustion. In order to secureuniformity in the character of the gas-delivery from the apparatus, itis necessary that the amounts of oil, steam, and air shall bear constantrelation to each other and to the temperature in the retort. Toaccomplish this result I deliver steam from a common source, butseparately, first, into contact with the hydrocarbon vapor, and thencemingled with said vapor into the generator, and, second, to a blower orother equivalent device by which itis combined with atmospheric air, andin which its pressure is rendered available to secure its own deliveryand the delivery of the air into the generator. In this manner the air,steam, and hydrocarbon are delivered in proper relations, and as theyfurnish the oxygen to promote and maintain the combustion of the coal orother material it follows that the heat will be maintained at the properpoint.

It is obvious that the process above described may be carried intoeffect by many different forms of apparatus; but in order that thoseskilled in the art maybe definitely informed as to a suitable means forthe purpose I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings one form ofapparatus which constitutes the subject-matter of a separate applicationfor patent of even date herewith.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectionthrough the center of the apparatus on the line :0 0c of Fig. 2. Fig. 2is a horizontal section of the generator 011 the line y 3 of Fig. 1.'Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the super-heater. Fig. 4 isa top planview of the grate. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the delivery pipe or main,showing the exhauster connected therewith.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an upright cylindrical generatoror combustion chamber of masonry or other suitable material, provided atits base with a tire-grate a and at the top with a feed-opening a,closed by a removable cap (L The generator is closed beneath thefire-grate by an ash pan or chamber a having a discharge-door a at thebottom. The top of the chamber is constructed with an arch or crown athrough which openings a lead into a top chamber a". In this chamber islocated a steam-superheater B, which may be of the form represented inFig. 3, or of any other form which will provide a sinuous passage forthe steamand admit of its being highly heated by the action of theproducts ascendingthrough the top of the retort.

C is a steam-pipe leading from a boiler or other generator to thesuper-heater.

l) is a pipe leading from the superheatcr and conducting a part of thesuperheated steam into the lower end of a vertical mixingchamber, whichlatter is in the form of a vertical tube or chamber E with removable cais c e at its ends. This mixing-chamber is surrounded by aheating-jacket I into the upper end of which the gases and productionsof combustion are delivered from the generator at a very hightemperaturethrough the neck or passagef. These highly-heated productspassing downward around the mixing-chamber raise the steam andhydrocarbon vapor to a very high temperature. The gases finally escapefrom the bottom of the jacket 1 through a dip-pipe into a condenser orwashing chamber G, whence they escape after passing through the fluidtherein by a pipe f.

II is a device-such as a steam-pump-for delivering oil or otherhydrocarbon into the base of the mixing-chamber E and into contact withthe superheated steam delivered into the chamber by pipe I). Thisoil-feeding pump is actuated by steam delivered through pipe I, whicheonununicates with the steam-delivery pipe t before the latter reachesthe superheater. A cock J is provided at the foot of the mixing-chamberfor the removal of fluids precipitated therein; but the fluids arecommonly maintained atsuch level as to cover the oil and steam inlets,as shown in the drawings.

K is a pipe leading from the top of the mixing-chamber and downward to aring L, which encircles the lower part of the generator, and which isprovided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with alarge number ofdeliverynozzles or tuyeres Z, directed inward through the walls of thegenerator from all sides for the purpose of discharging-the mingledsteam and hydrocarbon vapor. This pipe K is provided, as shown, with acock, by which the delivery therethrough is controlled, so as tomaintain a pressure of the vapor and steam within the mixing-chamber,the pressure being usually from twenty to forty pounds per square inch.

M is apipe connected with the superheating-chamber l and leading thenceto an ordinary injector-blower N, composed of a series of concentricnozzles of successively greater diameter leading into the base of thegenerator below the fire-grate, the effect of this apparatus being todeliver air and steam in great quantity through the mass of incandescentfuel.

The grate may be of any suitable form; but I prefer a series ofconnected rocking bars, such as shown, as I am thus enabled to speedilyremove the ash and to maintain a uniform combustion.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The generator is chargedwith carbonaceous material and combustion inaugurated in any suitablemanner. Steam is then admitted through the pipe 0, whence it passes inpart to the superheater, and thence to the mixing-chamber and blower N,and in part to the oil-feeding devices. The superheated steam enteringthe mixing-chamber, there meets and combines with the vapor of the oilat a temperature of from 800 to 1,200 Fahrenheit and at a pressure offrom twenty to forty pounds, and is delivered through the pipe K and thenumerous inlets Z into and through the burning carbon. At the same timeair and steam are delivered from the blower into the base of theincandescent mass.

One of the important features of my invention resides in the combinationof the steam and hydrocarbon vapor at a high pressure and temperatureand their delivery at once into the incandescent carbon in thegenorator.

Another important feature lies in the application of the outgoing gasesto maintain the temperature of the mingled steam and hydrocarbon vapor.

The maintenance of the pressure of the mingled steam and vapor isadvantageous, in that the steam is thus brought to a condition in whichits elements are readily dissociated and the carbon brought to acondition in which it has a great affinity for oxygen. The result isthat the mixture delivered into the incandescent carbon has but slighttendency to lower its temperature. A minimum supply of oxygen istherefore sufficient to maintain the combustion in the generator, andthe result is not only economy of fuel, but the constant production of afixed or stable gas of uniform quality.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The process ofmanufacturing combustible gas, consisting in the following steps: first,maintaining a mass of burning coal in a gencrater-chamber; second,applying the heated products escaping from said chamber externally to asecond chamber, and thereby raising the same to a high temperature;third, mixing steam and hydrocarbon vapor in the second chamber under apressure of from twenty to forty pounds, and, fourth, conducting saidhighly-heated mixture from the sec- 0nd chamber through the mass ofincandescent coal and at the same time supplying steam and air to themass to maintain combustion.

2. In a process of manufacturing gas, the method of automaticallymaintaining the proper relations between the hydrocarbon, steam, andheat, which consists, first, in igniting carbonaceous matter andbringing it to a state of incandescence; second, delivering steam from acommon source separately into contact with the hydrocarbon vapor andthence to the incandescent fuel, and also into contact with atmosphericair and thence with the air moved thereby into the fuel, and, third, inapplying the waste gases from the fuel to heat infiowing air, steam, andvapor.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand,this 16th day of March,1889, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

LEVI STEVENS.

Witnesses:

GEO. M. @ROBESON, SAML. D. OLIPHANT, Jr.

